Tag Archives: Brian Garcia

Because of proximity and history, any time Burbank High and Burroughs face each other in athletic competition, something is always at stake.

On Friday night at Tomahawk Field, the stakes were raised even higher because if the Bulldogs captured this Pacific League baseball encounter, they had a chance to pull even with Crescenta Valley for second place behind first place Arcadia.

But if the Indians prevailed, they would be tied with Muir at 8-6 and have a chance for the postseason.

Davis Mieliwocki went five innings and collected the win as Burbank prevailed 10-3 over Burroughs. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

In a game that lasted almost three hours and saw nine total pitchers employed and eight combined errors committed, Burbank walked away with a 10-3 victory.

With the triumph over their longtime rival, the Bulldogs are 10-4 in league, tied with the Falcons while the Indians posted a 7-7 mark, one game behind the Mustangs, and are out of the CIF Southern Section playoffs which begin next week.

For the seniors who win, there is always extreme joy and happiness, while for the losers there is only pain and sadness.

“Tough preseason for us. We played the monsters. But it seemed to kind of work in our favor,” said Burbank coach Bob Hart, whose team went 8-3 down the stretch. “I liked the resiliency. I like the fact that they were in every game. I had juniors wanting to give at-bats for the seniors. Ultimately that’s a testament to their character and that’s probably what I’m most proud of. I love to see guys who are selfless. We’ve got a bunch of those guys. I’m probably more proud of that than the score.”

Xavier Dubon was one of seven pitchers used by the Indians. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Craig Sherwood, who has coached baseball for 39 years and has also won a CIF championship, knows the other side.

“Sixteen seniors,” he said. “All I did was get those kids into the ballgame tonight. Hopefully we would do well and we just didn’t do well. The ball didn’t bounce our way.”

Sherwood went on: “I’m proud of all my players,” he said. “Every single one of them. The toughest part is you’re a family. You spend 10 months together. Then suddenly it’s gone after the third out is made. It’s tough. It’s emotional.”

Neither team scored in the first inning, but the Bulldogs (10-12-1), who scored three runs in the third and fourth inning, struck for two runs in the second as junior Jakob Duarte’s double into the left field corner scored junior Troy Lee, who walked to begin the frame.

Duarte then advanced to third base on a passed ball and eventually crossed the plate on an error.

The Indians (10-19), who committed four miscues, evened it at 2-2 in the second frame when senior Nicco Chuidian was hit by a pitch that nipped his nose, went to third on a double to right field by senior Preston Lemus and scored on a wild pitch.

Lemus took third base on a wild pitch and scored on a single from junior Brian Garcia, who also doubled to left center in the sixth inning.

Chuidian was the starting hurler and allowed one hit, striking out one with three walks across two frames.

“It hurts. It really does,” said the right-hander. “Coming into this season and having our heads high and expecting to win. Having that high note. Having that high goal. That expectation.”

Chuidian added: “My team. We’ve been through it all. We’ve been through countless walkoffs. Countless wins. Countless losses. We’ve been together,” he said.

Aidan Gonzalez motors down the line as Collin Johnson readies for the catch. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Was there a point that changed the season?

“I wouldn’t say there was a tipping point, per se,” he noted. “But it would seem that after Pasadena, that loss, really got to us. From there we got on a consistent losing streak.”

Chuidian, who will attend Cal State Fullerton, but not play baseball, went on: “We came out and gave it our all. I am glad that I was able to play with this team,” he said. “This team has been battling with me for over three years It’s been a blessing to play for these coaches and be part of this family.”

After that 6-1 setback to Pasadena at home on March 29, the Indians went 2-7 that included a 3-2 loss in eight innings to Burbank on Tuesday.

In a cloud of dust, the Bulldogs score a run in a 10-3 victory over the Indians. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank, which also turned in four errors, made it 5-2 in the third inning as senior Daniel Ruiz lashed a run-scoring double to left field that brought in sophomore Ryan King, who led off with a base hit to right field.

Lee’s single to right field plated senior Davis Mieliwocki, who walked and a sacrifice fly to left by junior Dominik Severo brought home Lee.

Mieliwocki toured five innings and was credited with the win after surrendering three hits, fanning nine, walking four and hitting two batters.

Senior Joey Clark entered in the sixth inning and struck out three and allowed two hits over two frames.

A three-run fourth was helped because of three errors by the Indians as Burbank, which didn’t get a hit in the frame, extended its lead to 8-2.

There’s something magical it seems when the Burbank High baseball team plays in a Pacific League game and it’s a one-run differential.

On Tuesday night, the team participated in its eighth such contest and came away with its seventh victory after defeating visiting Burroughs 3-2 in eight innings before a capacity crowd.

Runs and hits were somewhat hard to come by, but errors seemingly weren’t as each team had four.

The eighth inning began with sophomore Ryan King drawing a walk off senior Julian Jaramillo, who took the loss after working one and one-third innings while walking three.

Burbank pitcher Andrew De La Torre went eight innings and allowed four hits and two runs. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

King stole second base and senior Davis Mieliwocki, who belted a towering home run to right field in the fourth that tied it at 2-2 and singled in the first, was intentionally walked.

“We definitely settled down and Andrew [De La Torre] pitched a really good game so we had to pick him up with the at-bats,” said Mieliwocki of Burroughs’ two-run first.

Mieliwocki then spoke about his long homer.

“I knew he was going to give me a pitch to hit,” he said. “I just remember getting a pitch I could handle and doing damage with it.”

Both runners then moved up a base when senior Daniel Ruiz laid down a well-placed sacrifice bunt.

Junior Troy Lee stepped into the batter’s box and hit a ball back to the pitcher, who didn’t handle it cleanly as King raced home with the winning run.

Bob Hart, the Burbank coach, thought that Burroughs would walk the bases loaded and one out to force a play at home plate or a double play that would end the inning.

“I kind of thought they would do that,” he said of the strategy. “They were all pumped up. It’s a big Burbank-Burroughs game,” he said of the longtime rivalry that can be tough on your nerves. “You try to not panic. You take a business-like approach.”

The Indians (10-14 and 7-6 in league), who will host the Bulldogs (9-12-1 and 9-4 in league) on Friday night at 6 p.m., bolted ahead 2-0 in the first inning with the assistance of two Burbank miscues.

Junior Brian Garcia lined to center field and senior Michael Le struck out looking by De La Torre, a senior who went eight innings.

“I don’t really focus on throwing hard as long as I’ve got defense,” said De La Torre, who yielded four hits with four strikeouts and four walks. “Yes, I was tired. I always want a chance to get my team through.”

Senior Collin Johnson walked and Jaramillo drilled a double down the left-field line.

Senior Nicco Chuidian was safe at first base when two errors were committed on one play as both runners crossed the plate.

“We took the lead because they threw the ball around,” Burroughs coach Craig Sherwood said. “We average about two runs a game and our pitching is just over-taxed when they have to be perfect on the mound all the time.”

Sherwood, whose team is hitting a collective .230 with a team pitching staff earned-run average of 2.50, then added: “You’ve gotta play defense and you’ve gotta score runs. There’s three things in this game. Pitching. Hitting and defense.”

Burbank shortstop Ryan King making the throw to first base. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Sherwood said he should have pulled senior Xavier Dubon after three innings.

“That’s on me,” he pointed out. “They had a left-hander leading off and he struggles with left-handers. Our kids play hard. Our kids play well. I’m proud of our kids. I’m proud of all our guys.”

The Bulldogs came up with one run in the first inning with one out as King was safe at first base on an error.

Mieliwocki’s single to center field off Dubon, who toiled four innings, striking out one with four hits surrendered, moved King to third base and cut the lead to 2-1 when Ruiz was safe on a force out.

After fanning senior Preston Lemus swinging and getting junior Hyatt Entz to ground to third base, De La Torre walked junior Albert Prado, but induced Garcia to bounce to third base.

Dubon worked a perfect second inning as junior Dominik Severo grounded to third base. Junior Jakob Duarte grounded to second baseman Lemus, who made a spectacular play, and senior Cody Winters grounded to first base.

De La Torre faced five batters in the third as Le walked to begin the frame. De La Torre whiffed Johnson swinging and Jaramillo popped up to the pitcher.

Both Burroughs and Burbank were a bit sloppy defensively as each committed four errors. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Chuidian was safe on an error as Le moved to second, but the inning ended when senior Andres Salazar popped up to shortstop.

Junior Aidan Gonzalez led off the third with a single to left center, but junior Oaklee Spens bounced into a double play and King hit back to De La Torre, who tagged him.

Lemus flied to center field to lead off the fourth and Entz was aboard on an miscue. De La Torre hit into a double play to end the frame.

Dubon is a submarine-style hurler and left an offering slightly up and in where Mieliwocki likes it and sent the pitch high and deep over the fence.

Dubon faced seven batters in the fourth inning as Burroughs committed two errors and beside the homer, allowed only a single to Severo.

De La Torre saw Garcia bounce back to the box and Le fly to center. Johnson walked, but Jaramillo flied to center.

Chuidian replaced Dubon and worked a 1-2-3 fifth inning as Spens flied to center, King lined to second base and Mieliwicki fanned, catcher to first base.

The Indians collected two hits in the sixth off De La Torre as Chuidian had an infield single to lead off the stanza and Lemus added a one-out base hit to left.

Salazar, the second batter in the frame, struck out swinging, while Entz was safe on a fielder’s choice as Chuidian was out at third base. Prado’s liner to second base concluded the inning.

Chuidian tossed another perfect inning in the sixth when Ruiz flied to left field, Lee fanned swinging and Severo lined to center field.

Garcia opened the seventh inning by grounding to shortstop, but Le roped a single to right center. The inning was over when Johnson bounced into a double play.

Jaramillo took the mound in the seventh inning and issued a leadoff walk to Duarte and senior Vincent Romano entered as a pinch runner.

Any win is always welcome, but a victory against a quality opponent is even more meaningful because it’s a signature win.

The Burroughs High baseball team hasn’t had any signature wins this season, but collected its first on Friday night against Crescenta Valley at Stengel Field.

Trailing 2-0 after three innings, the Indians scored over the next three frames including a two-run sixth and walked away with a 4-2 triumph in a Pacific League match.

“We had this circled on our calendar for a long time because this was supposed to be our home game today,” Burroughs coach Craig Sherwood said. “And CV switched it on us and I wasn’t happy about that, but I told our guys we can go to their place on Friday night and make it our game. And that’s what our guys did tonight. I am so proud of every player. So many players who don’t get to play. Every player here stepped up and did a great job. It was a compete total team win.”

Nicco Chuidian, pictured in a recent game, started for Burroughs against Crescenta Valley and went three innings. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Sherwood spoke about what this victory could mean.

“Every year I talk to our team about a signature win and it usually comes earlier in the year and you build off it,” he said. “Well it didn’t and our guys hung in there. We got that signature win tonight and that can take you a long way.”

Burroughs (10-17 and 7-5 in league) will pay a visit to city rival Burbank (8-12-1 and 8-4 in league) next Tuesday with a 6 p.m. start and then host the Bulldogs on Friday with a 6 p.m. first pitch.

The fateful sixth began with senior Preston Lemus hitting a bloop single to center field and racing to third base on a double down the left-field line by junior Hyatt Entz.

In two previous at-bats, Entz struck out both times, but in that at-bat seemed laser focused against junior reliever Chad Ruf, who took the setback after hurling one-third of an inning, allowing four hits with two walks.

Senior Rio Lopez, a pinch hitter, followed with a sharp single up the middle that scored Lemus to make it 3-2.

Neither team scored in the first or second inning, but the Falcons (17-7 and 10-2 in league) made it 2-0 in the third when junior Isaac Sung walked with one out and raced to second and then third on a wild pitch that junior catcher Albert Prado couldn’t find.

Junior Will Grimm bounced to Lemus at second base, who decided to throw home to Prado, hoping to get Sung, who was safe.

The Indians, shown in a recent game versus Arcadia, played flawless defense and won 4-2 over the host Falcons. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Crescenta Valley’s lead expanded to 2-0 when senior Brian Ghattas roped a two-out double down the left-field line as Grimm crossed the plate.

Burroughs sliced the lead in half in the fourth inning when senior Julian Jaramillo singled to left field with one out.

Jaramillo scooted to second base on a passed ball and senior Nicco Chuidian, who singled in the seventh, and senior Andres Salazar both walked. A fielder’s choice by Lemus scored Jaramillo.

The fifth inning began with much promise as senior Dylan Rolando singled to open the frame, but Garcia, who singled in the third, bounced into a 6-4-3 double play.

Le walked and took second base on a wild pitch. Senior Collin Johnson walked and Jaramillo singled to right field that sent Le to third base. When Chuidian drew a base on balls, Le scored to even the game at 2-2.

Chuidian was the starting pitcher, went three innings, striking out three with one walk and one hit batter with two hits allowed.

Senior Xavier Dubon toured one inning and surrendered one hit and senior Nathaniel Metz tossed one inning, hit a batter and picked up the win.

Jaramillo was given the save after working two innings, walking one, hitting one batter and yielding one hit.

Sophomore Noah Maddox went four and two-third innings, allowing three hits, with five strikeouts and four walks for the Falcons.

Senior Chris Lawson fanned one across one frame and junior Logan Tourville hit a batter and struck out a batter in one inning.

Brian Garcia goes about his business in a quiet and dignified manner, but is also highly confident and professional, which translates well onto the baseball diamond.

On Friday afternoon, Garcia’s clutch two-run double to left field in the sixth inning helped propel the Burroughs High baseball team past much-improved Muir for a 5-2 triumph in a Pacific League game at Tomahawk Field.

The Indians managed eight hits in a 5-2 victory over the Mustangs. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Garcia’s at-bat came with no outs and scored junior Hyatt Entz, who singled to right center to open the stanza and then raced to second base on a wild pitch.

Junior Jorge Gutierrez also crossed home plate after getting hit by a pitch.

“I knew we weren’t going to win by one run,” said Garcia, a junior shortstop who contributed two hits. “One run wasn’t going to be enough to beat a team like that. These guys [Muir] fight.”

Garcia said that he was looking for a certain pitch from junior Amaris Harrison, who took over for senior Emilio Martinez.

“It was a fastball low and inside. I was looking fastball,” he said of the offering. “I put my foot down early. No off-speed was going to make me chase. If it wasn’t a fastball, I was going to take it.”

Also making it a long day for the Mustangs (12-5 and 4-4 in league) was the effectiveness of senior pitcher Nicco Chuidian, who tossed a two-hitter with eight strikeouts and three walks over six innings.

Chuidian did run into some trouble early as he allowed a run in the first and second inning, but didn’t surrender any runs after that.

“The pressure that I had to keep those first two guys off the base,” Chuidian said was the cause of the problem. “That early struggle. There’s always a sense of urgency when we play these kind of games. We knew it was going to be a tough battle.”

Nicco Chuidian gave up two hits and two runs and collected the win against Muir. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Chuidian said that he grew more confident as the game progressed.

“I started relaxing more,” he noted. “As the game went on, I felt they were slowing down and I couldn’t let up.”

Burroughs Coach Craig Sherwood agreed.

“It’s hard to throw strikes to a guy that steals bases,” he said. “I think he was worried about walking him and he walked him.”

Senior Julian Jaramillo was also effective working one inning and didn’t allow a hit with one strikeout.

The seventh inning began with Martinez lining to right field, senior Tobias Humphrey striking out swinging and senior David Solis bouncing to second base.

The Indians (9-13 and 6-2 in league) had a one-run lead before Garcia’s key two-base hit and the way the Mustangs have been playing, knocking off previously unbeaten Arcadia 5-4 on the road and then taking care of Burroughs 1-0 in eight innings on Tuesday, they could have rallied.

“We had the same exact situation on Tuesday. Two guys on. Nobody out with Brian at the plate and all my instincts said to lay a bunt down and I didn’t do it and he hit into a double play,” Sherwood said. “And for two days, I literally didn’t sleep. I’ll never make that mistake again. I’ve gotta trust my brain and not my heart. ”

Sherwood continued: “And then he came up in that same situation and I said to myself, I knew he was going to hit,” he said. “And so I didn’t put the bunt on and he hits the double and breaks the game open.”

The runner scores for the Indians in a Pacific League game versus the Mustangs. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Each team scored in the first inning when Muir led 1-0 after Harrison walked to open the frame.

Harrison swiped second base, moved to third base on senior Aryonis Harrison’s fielder’s choice and scored when junior Ely Resendiz bounced into a double play.

The Indians responded by taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first when six hitters trotted to the plate.

Garcia walked to commence the frame and dashed to second base after senior Michael Le laid down a sacrifice bunt.

Senior Collin Johnson’s line-drive hit to right center brought Garcia home and when Chuidian rifled a ball down the line for a single, Johnson crossed the plate to make it 2-1.

Muir evened the contest at 2-2 in the top of the second when junior Angel Lopez ripped a single to left center as Solis scored after walking with two out, stealing second base and scooting to third base on a wild pitch.

Luckily, the Indians are blessed with a deep pitching staff with a dozen hurlers standing ready.

It’s going to be close at third base as Julian Jaramillo readies for the throw. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Chuidian is very likely the ace and showed it throughout much of the game, including the third inning when he faced the minimum three batters.

Harrison drew a leadoff walk, however, Aryonis Harrison was called out after running outside the white line down first base.

Resendiz then bounced into an inning-ending double play as the threat was vanquished.

A perfect frame followed in the fourth for Chuidian, who induced junior Harper Taylor to foul out to right field, Martinez to ground out to second base and Humphrey to fly out to right field.

Another perfect inning followed as Chuidian saw Solis fly out to right field, Lopez striking out, catcher to first base and senior Tyquise Solomon grounding out to second base.

The Mustangs began the sixth inning with a base hit to left field from Amaris Harrison, who was later picked off by Chuidian.

Aryonis Harrison struck out, but reached first base on a throwing error, only to see Resendiz strike out swinging and Taylor fanning with the catcher applying the tag.

Also getting base hits for Burroughs was senior Andres Salazar, along with junior Johnny Angel and Gutierrez.

Martinez yielded seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks across five innings for the Mustangs and Harrison toured one inning, allowing one hit with two walks and one strikeout and a hit batter.

So far this campaign, the Burroughs High baseball team has been involved in two long streaks.

The first was a six-game losing skein to begin the season, but also own a four-game winning streak.

On Friday afternoon at Tomahawk Field, the Indians sideswiped Glendale 7-1 in a Pacific League game and have claimed six of their last seven games.

Nicco Chuidian dominated in five of the six innings he pitched against Glendale. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“We’re starting to swing the bats a lot better with two outs,” Burroughs coach Craig Sherwood said. “In the first six games, we probably left 20 guys on with two outs. Now we’re starting to get those guys in. We got into a funk and we found our way out of it. We’re on the right track now.”

Nicco Chuidian was credited with the victory after working six innings, yielding five hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks.

Chuidian’s only sub-par frame was the sixth inning when the senior right-hander gave up three hits and one run, but otherwise was stellar.

“Going into the sixth inning, I was getting tired,” said Chuidian, who doubled to left field in the sixth inning. “I thought that ball Collin [Johnson] hit was going to end the game. I said, OK, go out there. I don’t mind pitching. I had my mind set in the wrong place when I started that inning.”

The Indians played flawless defense in a 7-1 win over the Nitros. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Chuidian said despite the team losing its first six games, many were tight.

“Even when we went 0-6, all those games, they were all very close games. They were walk-offs,” he noted.

Burroughs grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning as it tagged junior right-hander Thomas Kovarik, who surrendered two hits across four innings, striking out six, walking five and hitting a batter.

In the frame, eight batters made their way to home plate with senior Michael Le and Chuidian each drawing walks.

Le went to second base on a wild pitch, third on a walk and scored when senior Preston Lemus was hit by a pitch that made it 1-0.

It’s a close call at second base in an attempted steal. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Chuidian took second base on a walk, third base on a hit batter and scored on the first of three errors by the Nitros (5-4 and 0-4 in league) as it became 2-0.

A two-run third inning saw the Indians, who are leaving for Phoenix, Arizona, to play five games in five days in the Coach Bob National Invitational Tournament, slide ahead 4-0.

“It’s really important,” Sherwood said of the upcoming portion of the schedule. “We won that tournament three years ago and we’re looking to going there and doing well. We’ve got 12 pitchers on the staff and all 12 pitchers have done an outstanding job. I think we’re going in the right direction.”

This time Burroughs (6-7 and 4-0 in league) sent six batters to the plate as senior Julian Jaramillo delivered a run-scoring force out that brought in Johnson, a senior who was safe on an error, and junior Johnny Angel’s sacrifice fly scored Chuidian, who reached on a walk.

First baseman Collin Johnson is about to receive the ball. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burroughs extended its advantage to 5-0 with a run in the fourth as Johnson’s two-out bloop single to left brought home senior Andres Salazar, who walked to lead off the frame.

The Indians’ lead swelled to 7-0 with two runs in the fifth as eight batters waltzed to home plate against junior Michael Gonzalez.

Junior Hyatt Entz had a run-scoring infield single as Jaramillo, who singled to begin the inning and had senior Christian Morales enter as a pinch runner, scored and junior Brian Garcia’s single with two out drove in Entz.

Chuidian ran into some trouble in the sixth inning as he faced seven hitters including senior Darion Jenks, who had a two-out, run-scoring single that cut the lead to 7-1.

Collin Johnson readies to make the putout on Trent Lousararian. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“It’s been our team’s struggle all year long, where our first time through the lineup we tend to be very tentative, especially with a pitcher who is consistently in the zone,” Glendale coach Marcus Whithorne said. “That’s been our challenge. It shouldn’t take three or four innings. That second and third time we should perform better.”

Chuidian worked a perfect first inning that included striking out the side as junior Ian Nord fanned looking, senior Michael Tichenor struck out catcher to first base and Jenks whiffed swinging.

Another 1-2-3 frame followed in the second inning as Chuidian allowed a single to Kovarik, who went to second base on a balk.

Junior Ethan Aldrete fanned swinging and senior Nathan Wong lined to left fielder Angel, who gunned the ball into the infield which doubled up Kovarik.

Senior Trent Lousararian grounded to shortstop to begin the third inning, but senior Seth Harley singled to right field and stole second base. Chuidian fanned senior Ryan Kataoka looking and Nord swinging.

Chuidian’s third perfect frame followed as Tichenor grounded to second base, Jenks fanned looking and Kovarik struck out catcher to first base.

Chuidian faced four batters in the fifth inning as Aldrete bounced back to the box, Wong walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, third base on Lousararian’s grounder and Harley then bounced to shortstop.

Salazar went one inning for Burroughs, fanning one and hitting a batter, while Gonzalez worked two frames, striking out three with three hits allowed for Glendale.

Though the Pacific League hasn’t yet begun, it’s highly likely the Burroughs High and Burbank baseball teams will probably qualify for the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

The Indians and Bulldogs have deep and capable pitching staffs, which is a key factor in having a winning season.

One of Burroughs’ strengths will be its pitching staff, which boasts a dozen hurlers. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burroughs, which is looking to make the playoffs for a fifth straight year, has a dozen pitchers on the staff and all are capable of performing at a high level.

“This is one of our team strengths this year with 12 players able to toss the ball,” longtime Burroughs coach Craig Sherwood said. “While no one pitcher is dominant, there is a staff of very capable pitchers as well as situational pitchers that will be called upon constantly to get outs in big situations.”

If there is an ace it would be senior and three-year starter Nicco Chuidian, while last year’s Pacific League Pitcher of the Year, Xavier Dubon, is a submarine specialist and very effective.

If the Indians are in front and it’s late in the game, the closer and set-up men will be seniors Andres Salazar and Julian Jaramillo.

Burbank works on its defensive prowess. Defense and pitching will be two keys to success. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The long relievers will be senior submariner Michael Le and juniors Tobey Ho, Johnny Angel, Colgan Martin and Matthew Ziegler.

The rest of the Indians’ staff includes seniors Josh Hooker, Brandon Aguilar and Nathaniel Metz.

The Indians participated in three preseason tourneys and they include the prestigious Easton Tournament, which is loaded with talented teams, the Lancaster Rotary West Tournament hosted by Quartz Hill High and the Coach Bob Tournament in Arizona.

The Indians are 2-6, with a 6-5 decision over Lancaster in the Lancaster Rotary West tourney and an 8-1 triumph over Highland in the Quartz Hill tourney.

It’s a close one at first base when the Indians played a recent game against St. Francis. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burroughs will open the league portion with a game at Hoover on March 8.

Behind the plate will be sophomore James Turner and will be supported by junior Albert Prado.

Senior Collin Johnson will play first base, bat in the No. 3 hole and also packs a potent stick.

Johnson, who swings lefthanded, is a power hitter who hits for a high average and will be backed up by senior Chris Magoon.

Second base will be a strong battle between junior Devon Esquivel and senior Preston Lemus, a transfer from Arizona.

Burbank Coach Bob Hart hopes to see a lot of runs and hits during the season. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

When Jaramillo isn’t on the mound, he will toil at third base and will be backed up by junior Hyatt Entz, who played on the boys’ soccer team.

Brian Garcia, a junior all-league pick, will hold down shortstop and bat leadoff for the Indians.

Junior Jorge Gutierrez, who is capable of playing second base and third base, will also see action at shortstop.

Chuidian will play center field when not on the hill and backed up by Salazar and Le.

The rest of the outfield consists of seniors Dylan Rolando and Rio Lopez, and juniors Kevin Gutierrez and Ho.

The utility infielders are seniors Daniel Roman and Hoover transfer Christian Morales, while junior Angel can play in the infield and outfield.

If pitching is crucial to winning, then the Indians are definitely ready. (Photo by Ross A Benson)

The Bulldogs failed to make the playoffs last season, but did advance to the quarterfinals in 2017.

“We have that challenge now,” Burbank coach Bob Hart said of getting back to the postseason. “But they’re going to have to find and accept their roles.”

Hart said despite an 0-3-1 record including a 5-0 loss to powerful Harvard-Westlake in the Easton Tournament, he’s optimistic.

“That was a very respectable game to a very good team,” Hart said of the Wolverines. “I think we’re going to be okay.”

Like its crosstown rival, Burbank, which also had a 3-3 tie against Chatsworth, commence the league season at Muir on March 5, will depend on pitching and will be paced by senior Davis Mieliwocki, who throws 85 to 87 miles per hour.

The Bulldogs can lean heavily on skill, experience and a solid pitching staff. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

When not on the rubber, Mieliwocki, an all-league, second-team selection, is a steady and heady presence at third base.

Senior Joey Clark is also a key starter, while senior Andrew De La Torre, junior Jakob Duarte and sophomore Ryan King, who is the starting shortstop, will all need to be productive on the hill.

The rest of the pitching staff includes juniors Josh Balos, Willem Clendenin, while Troy Lee and King and Clark will be the primary closers.

The catching duties will primarily fall upon juniors Dominik Severo and Alberto Ayala.

Duarte, Lee and Clark will play first base, senior Kenny Won and junior Tyler LaMarsna will see action at second base and senior Daniel Ruiz will back up Mieliwocki at third base and senior Gevork Leklyan will also see time at third base.

Junior Oaklee Spens will patrol center field, De La Torre will play left field and junior Aidan Gonzalez will see time in left field.

The remainder of the outfield consists of seniors Cody Winters and Vincent Romano and juniors Justin Robinson and Adam Loera.

Generally speaking, quality pitching is the key to success in baseball.
That hasn’t been the problem for the Burroughs High baseball team early on this season.
But the hitting has been a completely different story.

(Photo by Ross A Benson)

The Indians remained winless Saturday evening after being shut out 5-0 by visiting St. Francis High of La Canada Flintridge.
“It’s hard to win with half a run a game. We’re just not hitting,” Burroughs coach Craig Sherwood said. “It’s not that we aren’t competing. We’re competing with everybody. We’re just not hitting.”
Burroughs (0-6) has played against only high-quality competition thus far, with its other losses coming to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, Saugus, Chatsworth, and Reseda Cleveland highs. But the Indians have just three runs to show for.

“I don’t want easy and the kids don’t want easy,” Sherwood said. “Right now we’re still tied for first in the Pacific League and we have to keep that outlook. Nobody is happy right now, but nobody is quitting either.”
Burroughs had just two hits against the visiting Golden Knights, who improved to 4-3.
St. Francis left-hander Brandon Markarian had seven strikeouts in six innings and Burroughs had just three base runners when he was on the mound.

(Photo by Ross A Benson)

“Coming off the bus I was really focused. I was trying something different. I went into the dugout, got my headphones on and just started focusing on the pitch,” Markarian said. “I wasn’t focusing on the offense, just defense and it worked out. The fastball was working really well and the offspeed felt really good.”
Burroughs put two runners on in the third inning as James Turner had a two-out single and Brian Garcia drew a walk. But Markarian was able to get out of the inning.

Julian Jaramillo almost got the Indians started off on the right track in the fourth inning but was robbed of a hit by a fine defensive play from St. Francis second baseman Tommy Italia, who stopped his line drive from going into the outfield.

(Photo by Ross A Benson)

Burroughs starting pitcher Xavier Dubon was solid through four innings before the Golden Knights started to come alive.
Bradyn Muro walked. Jack Duncan followed with a single. Nico Manes then reached on an error, which scored Muro. Mikey Kane followed with a single and Matt Odom and Doyle Kane hit back-to-back doubles to right center field. Stephen Castro followed with a single before Dubon was able to get out of the inning.

Garcia reached base in the sixth inning for Burroughs on a St. Francis error. But he was left stranded.
Nicco Chuidian had a long one-out single in the seventh inning for the Indians. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch but was also left stranded.

There is an outside chance that the Burroughs High baseball team will participate in the upcoming CIF Southern Section playoffs after beating city rival Burbank 5-2 in a Pacific League contest at Tomahawk Field on Tuesday night.

With the stands filled to near capacity, the Indians scored a run in the first inning and four runs in the second.

“We’re playing for a playoff spot. We have to win to get in and we have to win on Friday or we’re out,” Burroughs coach Craig Sherwood said.

Burroughs junior Nicco Chuidian went five innings, collected two hits with an RBI in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over Burbank. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

That was all the scoring Burroughs (13-14 and 7-6 in league) would need as junior Nicco Chuidian went five innings, striking out two with three hits allowed.

“I thought Nicco did a great job to start the game,” Sherwood said. “He showed not only on the mound, but also at the plate what an elite player he is.”

Chuidian was mighty handy with the bat, collecting two hits and added a run batted in.

The Bulldogs (7-13 and 5-8 in league), who are out of the playoff hunt, scored two runs in the third inning as senior Abiezer Delgado’s base hit drove in both runs.

“Obviously you want to win games. That’s what we’re here to do, but at the same time you want to develop young men that you can be proud of,” Burbank coach Bob Hart said. “In that regard, I couldn’t be happier. They’re a great group of guys.”

Hart then added: “They’ve matured. They conduct themselves at a pretty high level,” he said. “They’re all good in the classroom. Most of them are going to college. You want to win games, but you want to develop young men. Ultimately that’s probably as big a goal for me as trophy hunting.”

Junior Matthew Porras went two and two-third innings with a strikeout, while junior Daniel Ruiz ventured three and one-third innings.

The Bulldogs, who were limited to three hits, will host the Indians on Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.

Chuidian cruised through the fourth inning when he retired freshman Ryan King and Ruiz on fly outs to right field and senior Max Meltzer on a pop up to third base.

Ruiz faced four batters in the bottom of the frame as junior Julian Jaramillo (two RBIs) and senior Matthew Diaz grounded out to shortstop.

Junior Collin Johnson, who walked three times, was aboard on a base on balls, but junior Andres Salazar flied out to center field.

The fifth inning began with Chuidian inducing senior Matt Moreno to fly out to left field while sophomore Oakley Spens grounded out to shortstop.

Burroughs third baseman Julian Jaramillo making an over the shoulder catch. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Junior Davis Mieliwocki then grounded out to sophomore shortstop Brian Garcia (two hits), who made a terrific stop and then gunned the ball to first base for the final out.

“It’s what we live for. I woke up thinking, Burbank game. We’re all ready for this,” Garcia said.

Garcia spoke about the two hits. “I’m really just looking for that one pitch,” he said. “Nothing high. Nothing low. You have to take advantage of it.”

Garcia said that he knows how important these games are. “We have to have the same mentality and the same approach,” he pointed out of Friday’s match. “Who ever wants it more will come out on top.”

Ruiz faced three batters in the fifth as senior Nathan Palafox lined out to center field.

Senior Revin Diego walked and senior Andrew Jacob Barrera lined out to left field, but Diego was caught stealing for the third out.

Senior Joe Metcalf was on the mound to begin the sixth for the Indians and walked junior Andrew De La Torre and Delgado.

That’s Jaramillo on the base paths. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

In stepped junior Xavier Dubon in place of Metcalf and he fanned Porras for the first out.

“I think the relief job by Xavier, who came in with runners on first and second and nobody out with a three run lead and they didn’t score a run off him was one of the best relief jobs in years,” Sherwood said of his submarine specialist.

Dubon then induced King to reach on a force out, and fanned Ruiz for the last out.

“I was staying calm. Focus on just throwing strikes. Keeping it low. Get ground balls. I wasn’t trying to do anything special,” Dubon said of his outing. “I think it’s just the normal game. Come out here and just focus on you. Visualize it in your head and just do it. Believe in yourself.”

Six batters trotted to the plate in the home half of the sixth with senior Brandon Giraldo and Diaz reaching base on singles.

Salazar worked the final inning for the Indians and went 1-2-3 after Meltzer flied out to left field, Moreno grounded out to second base and Spens flied out to right field in foul territory.

Beer dominated the Indians in six innings of work by striking out 13 in a 9-0 road win for the Falcons.

“I can’t make excuses. We lost to the best pitcher in the league,” Burroughs coach Craig Sherwood said of the UC Santa Barbara-bound star. “I’ve seen all the pitchers in this league and by far he’s the best guy.”

Burroughs (10-12, 4-6 in the league) wasn’t completely shut out against Beer but was unable to capitalize on the one big chance it had.

The Indians had back-to-back singles in the second inning from Nicco Chuidian and Nathan Palafox.

Brandon Giraldo then followed with a bloop single to right field.

However, Chuidian was thrown out at home plate to end the threat.

Burroughs had just two hits the rest of the way, a single by Jacob Barrera in the fourth inning and a fifth-inning double by Brian Garcia.

Beer credited his team (19-4, 10-0 in the league) for helping make his job easier.

“The offense came out and got some runs early. It makes me more comfortable on the mound and just throw whatever pitches coach Beer calls,” Beer said of his father, Darren, the longtime Falcon pitching coach. “We knew they (Burroughs) always come out and play hard against us. They are at their home field. We knew they’d come out and try to make a statement.”

CV scored three runs in the first inning, two in the second and one in the third. Burroughs used six pitchers and committed five errors. The Falcons scored once more in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Photo by Ross A Benson

After Beer left, Burroughs was unable to get any runners on against Falcons closer Luke Hempel.

“I want the guys to be aggressive. I watch them in batting practice. They hit the ball to the right side. They hit line drives and when we get in the games and I don’t know what we’re looking for,” said a frustrated Sherwood of his team.

If there is one thing the Burroughs baseball can celebrate, it is the fact that the Indians won’t have to face Pasadena High ace Alvie Castro any more.

The senior right hander dominated the visiting Indians Friday by striking out 10 and allowing just one hit in a 7-1 Pacific League victory. It marked the second year in a row that Castro has defeated Burroughs.

“Castro was right on strike after strike after strike. He was in the zone the whole game,” Burroughs coach Craig Sherwood said. “We were trying to take some pitches and drive his pitch count up and we just couldn’t get it there. He beat a good team today. Hats off to him.”

Burroughs Brandon Giraldo looks at a pitch.

Burroughs (9-7, 3-1 in league) got its only hit off Castro on the last pitch he threw, a single by pinch hitter Revin Diego in the seventh inning. Castro was then removed after reaching the limit of 110 pitches.

“I was working on my changeup a lot more,” said Castro, who didn’t realize he had a no-hitter for much of the game. “I found out coming back out to the mound for the seventh. I heard them saying it.”

Pasadena coach Jose Montes said his team desperately needed the victory after losing to Burroughs 4-1 earlier in the week, its third straight defeat to open league play.

Xavier Dubon goes into his sidearm windup.

“Today we can out with a sense of urgency. My pitcher was just outstanding. You can’t ask for a better outing than that. When you need a big game from someone you bring your ace in,” Montes said.

Pasadena (10-7, 1-3 in league) scored a pair of runs in both the second and third innings and added three more in the fifth inning.

Burroughs scored its lone run in the sixth inning.

Collin Johnson led off with a walk. Brian Garcia then reached base after the ball he hit was nearly caught on the run by right fielder Christian Zambrano. Two batters later, Julian Jaramillo reached base on a throwing error that allowed Johnson to score.

Burroughs Andres Salazar connects on a pitch.

Castro however bounced back to retire the next two batters and eliminate the comeback threat.

Sherwood acknowledged that the loss could define the rest of the season.

“How we respond to this is going to be the mark of our team,” he said.